Breadcrumb

1. Home

2. Print 

3. Pdf 

4. Node 

5. Entity Print 

Important Conversations Between a

Part-Time Attending Veterinarian and

the Licensee or Registrant

Last Modified: 

Print

Attending Veterinarian Information - Select a Topic - ▾ Go
When an attending veterinarian works for a facility on a part-time or consultant

basis, they often rely on licensees or registrants to provide basic routine veterinary

care when they are not present. In many cases, an attending veterinarian is

empowering staff at a regulated facility to do much more than the typical pet owner.

If the attending veterinarian authorizes facility staff to perform veterinary

procedures, they should provide detailed instructions for those procedures in the

written program of veterinary care. Which veterinary procedures are appropriate for

facility staff to perform, if any, is entirely at the attending veterinarian’s discretion.

The attending veterinarian is not obligated to authorize or support facility staff

conducting any veterinary procedures.

On occasion, licensees or registrants may not have sufficient experience to perform

routine veterinary procedures, and they may not always ask for the information they

need. Observing the licensee or registrant perform the procedure is the best way to

make sure there is adequate knowledge and skill for it to be performed correctly.

When observation isn't possible, a detailed discussion about the procedure is

essential to verify understanding.

Important Topics To Cover

The attending veterinarian should observe or discuss any procedures they authorize

facility staff to perform. The following are important details to cover for commonly

approved veterinary procedures:

Giving medications

Calculating the right dose based on the animal’s weight

Proper mode of administration

How to use and read a syringe (if appropriate for the medication)

Ensuring that there is understanding that providing more medication than

directed, either by increasing the dose amount or the frequency of dosing, is

not going to make it more effective or help the animal get better quicker

Giving injections and drawing blood samples
Maintaining the sterility of the needle (avoid setting it on unclean surfaces)

Maintaining the sterility of the medication (avoid leaving a needle in the rubber

stopper while the medication is being stored)

Ensuring each needle is only used once

Locating the appropriate blood vessel, and when to stop searching

Defining the maximum number of ‘sticks’ per animal

Proper collection technique and handling of samples

Discuss how much blood to draw, and how to ensure bleeding is stopped when

finished

Proper storage of medications

Storing vaccines and medications that require refrigeration, including

appropriate timeframes for use after they have been removed from the

refrigerator

Avoiding exposure to light, especially direct sunlight, for light sensitive

medications

Treating common minor clinical problems

Knowing when to contact the AV if the treatment described in the program of

veterinary care is not working

Understanding sterile technique 

(If the licensee or registrant will be conducting procedures that require it.)

Biosecurity

Understanding the importance of quarantining or isolating new and/or sick

animals

Proper steps to avoid cross contamination

Effective cleaning and disinfection procedures, including which products to use

Additional Topics

Facilities with Dogs
For dogs, there is also a requirement for a preventive care program to ensure

healthy and unmatted coats, properly trimmed nails, and clean and healthy eyes,

ears, skin, and teeth. To best help a licensee or registrant meet this requirement,

additional topics that are good to discuss include but are not limited to:

How to properly cut nails and how to stop bleeding if they are cut too short

How to assess the eyes and what common problems to look for, especially with

certain breeds that are more prone to eye problems

Ensuring there is an understanding that that using a previously prescribed eye

medications for ALL eye issues in the future may make those other eye issues

worse instead of better

How to properly clean ears with approved products. This should include use of

appropriate materials to wipe the outer ear and being sure to remove cleaning

fluids from the ear canal as part of the cleaning process

How to properly assess dental health, including opening the mouth to get a

good look at the molars. Explain what tarter is and when it needs attention,

methods of control and when the attending veterinarian would need to be

contacted.

Facilities with Exotic Animals, Hoofstock, or Non-Domestic

Animals

Routine husbandry topics that the attending veterinarian will want to discuss with

facilities that have exotic animals or hoofstock include proper handling, nutrition,

hoof trimming, and shearing. For licensees or registrants that are hand-rearing

different species of nondomestic animals, the attending veterinarian may also assist

in determining the best nutritional support and proper housing for neonatal and very

young animals.

These important conversations are suggested to protect animal welfare and may

help the facility save money and the veterinarian save time in the long run.

Conversation Resources

Download and use our Animal Care Aids to help with these important conversations. 

Animal Care Aids